Big Love
Encyclopedia
Big Love is an American television drama that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah
that practices polygamy
. Big Love stars Bill Paxton
, Jeanne Tripplehorn
, Chloë Sevigny
, Ginnifer Goodwin, Douglas Smith
, Bruce Dern
, Grace Zabriskie
, Mary Kay Place
, Matt Ross
, and Cassi Thomson
.
The series premiered in the United States on March 12, 2006 following the sixth-season premiere of the HBO series The Sopranos
. The show ran for five seasons, ending on March 20, 2011.
and Will Scheffer
, who also served as executive producers
. Olsen and Scheffer spent almost three years researching the premise of the show, with the intent of creating a fair portrayal of polygamy in America without being judgmental.
. During the first three seasons, "God Only Knows
" by The Beach Boys
played during the opening titles. The musical score for the series was composed by Anton Sanko. Mark Mothersbaugh
composed music for the first season, while David Byrne
was in charge of music during the second season.
, his three wives (Barb, first/legal wife; Nicki, second wife; and Margene
, third wife) and their (combined) nine children. Henrickson lives with his family in three neighboring houses in Sandy, Utah
, a suburb
of Salt Lake City.
player who returned to Juniper Creek after alcohol addiction, to gain a seat on the Church's board of directors in order to undercut Roman's considerable influence and to maintain a level of autonomy from his controlling grasp.
Bill's first wife, Barb, is shown to be the anchor for the plural Henrickson family, but as the show progresses, it is revealed that Barb has mixed feelings about the concept of polygamy, and only her love for Bill makes her stay. Meanwhile, second wife Nicki (daughter of Roman) struggles to fit in with modern life outside the compound and her own desire for power within the family dynamic. Nicki compensates for her isolation by developing an addiction to shopping, leading her to accumulate $60,000 of debt in credit card charges. Third wife Margene, 24 years old, struggles to find her place within the family, as both Barb and Nicki look down on her, due to her youth and immaturity.
Most of season one focuses on the family's struggle to keep their secret from their friends, neighbors, and coworkers. However, things come to a head when Barb is nominated for a "Mother of the Year" Award, resulting in her and Bill being outed as a polygamist couple. Meanwhile, Joey's mentally unstable wife, Wanda, poisons Alby Grant (Roman's son and chief minion) when Alby discovers that Bill is using Joey as a pawn in his scheme to undermine Roman's power within the Church, and threatens the two.
The second season also expands upon the political battles at Juniper Creek. When Roman and his wife inform Alby that they are willing to allow Wanda and Joey to get away with their attempt on his life in exchange for using them as leverage against Bill, Alby alerts outside authorities, who arrest Joey (who claims credit for poisoning Alby in order to protect Wanda), which ultimately leads to a raid of the compound.
Meanwhile, Roman's newest intended bride, 16-year-old Rhonda Volmer
, secretly leaves the compound to live with the Henricksons. The family is quick to take Rhonda in, thinking that she is an innocent trying to escape being forced to marry the elderly Roman. However, it is quickly revealed that Rhonda is a pathological liar and sociopath who left the compound only to exploit Roman's legal troubles in order to get media coverage for her story in the newspaper and on TV.
Rhonda's departure and Alby's actions lead to Bill's manipulating Roman and the Greenes (a renegade polygamist sect that operates on the fringes of society) against each other in order to claim Weber Gaming. Roman is shot by the Greenes when the police finally try to arrest the Greenes, forcing them to flee. With Roman hospitalized, Alby quickly seizes power, and Roman is arrested by the police for violating the Mann Act. Alby's power is ultimately secured when his mother flees Juniper Creek and Bill doesn't challenge Alby's claim of prophethood.
On the home front, Nicki struggles with Bill's decision to send their son to a Catholic school (which is far enough out of the way for Bill to claim Nicki as his sole wife) while Margene and Barb wage war against each other for the "head wife" position. This is complicated when Margene befriends Ana, a Serbian waitress and dental hygienist
, after witnessing Bill flirting with her at a diner. Margene encourages Bill to bring Ana into the family as a fourth wife in order to gain an ally against Barb and Nicki.
Barb, after a tearful reunion with her estranged mother and a pep talk with Roman's wife, reasserts herself as first wife by outing the family as polygamist to her nosy neighbors and informing Bill that she will finally leave him once and for all if he tries to bring a fourth wife into the family.
Meanwhile, Sarah is seeking help in dealing with her family's lifestyle through a support group for ex-Mormons, leading to her falling for a man ten years her senior. While Sarah ultimately gives up her virginity to her new boyfriend (mainly to spite her father, who is indifferent towards Sarah's growing disdain for him and polygamy), Ben gives himself over to his father's views on polygamy. At the close of the season, Ben is dating twin girls from Juniper Creek whose goal is to marry one man between them, causing Barb to consider sending him away to live with her nonpolygamist mother.
Another focus in season 3 is on Roman Grant's trial, as Nicki infiltrates the prosecution's office building as a clerical worker (using Margene's name) to uncover the identities of the chief witnesses against Roman at Adalen's request. The key witness is Joey's intended second wife Kathy, whom Roman forced to marry when she was only 14. Two of the witnesses are intimidated into not testifying, while Rhonda (who now seeks to sue Roman and Juniper Creek in civil court) is given $30,000 by Adaleen and ordered to flee town after Adaleen lies to her about Roman no longer loving her. Kathy's testimony is negated by her twin sister JoDean, who tells the court that due to the Juniper Creek policy of not celebrating birthdays, and their lack of a birth certificate due to being born at home, the sisters have never agreed on how old they are; JoDean has always believed they are older than Kathy does. The defense argues this means Kathy may not have been 14 when she married as she claims, but might have been of age. Roman is acquitted and Nicki, who was forcibly married off at 15 to an older man who saw her picture in one of Roman's "Joy Books," shoves her father down a flight of stairs. Nicki's employment leads to a flirtation with Ray Henry (Chip Esten
), who is prosecuting her father without knowing Nicki's true identity.
Meanwhile, Sarah is preparing to leave home for college at Arizona State when she discovers that she is pregnant. She tells Ben and Heather, but not her parents or Scott, the 28-year old father. At first she plans to give her child up for adoption, but ultimately she decides to keep it. Then, on a family vacation, Barb finds Nicki's birth-control pills and thinks they belong to Sarah. Barb's tirade against her daughter leads to Nicki admitting that the pills are hers: she'd been on the Pill for years while lying to Barb and Bill about wanting more children. The next day, Sarah miscarries and Nicki convinces her to come clean about the pregnancy and miscarriage. While Bill attempts to be supportive of Sarah by buying her a new car and refusing to judge her decision to be sexually active, Barb's relationship with Sarah is severely damaged. Sarah decides not to attend college, much to the dismay of Heather, who had changed her future plans to attend the University of Utah to attend Arizona State to help Sarah with the baby.
Joey has announced to Bill that he, Kathy, and Wanda are getting married, and he asks Bill to seal
them. Furious at Roman's acquittal, Kathy has been gathering resistance on the Juniper Creek compound against Roman, threatening his waning authority within the compound (due to Alby consolidating his own power base). Roman has Kathy kidnapped hours before her wedding in order to force her to marry rival Hollis Greene, who is revealed to be Roman's brother-in-law and who will be immediately shipped off to Mexico, where Kathy will never see Joey or Wanda again. After stabbing Hollis's wife Selma with a pitchfork, Kathy steals a pickup truck and tries to flee. Roman forcibly rams her vehicle from behind and it plows into an electrical pole. Her body is subsequently dumped in a ravine and her death staged to look like an accident. At the funeral a few days later, Joey accuses Roman of murdering his intended wife. Joey later confronts Adaleen in her hotel room and tries to coerce a confession out of her about what she knows.
While Nicki becomes entangled with her boss, due to Ray's attraction to "Margene," Bill attempts to forge an alliance to bring down Roman for his part in Kathy's death. The real Margene discovers Nicki's use of her identity and her flirtatious relationship with Ray, and eventually exposes them. Ray denounces the entire family and vows to prosecute Nicki for illegal actions during the Grant trial. Bill decides to separate from Nicki, who chooses to retreat to the compound and renew her relationship with Alby. Meanwhile, Sarah reunites with Scott and after telling him about the miscarriage, proposes marriage to him.
Elsewhere, Bill and Alby broker a deal with Bill's brother-in-law Ted, who is seeking a Mormon document implying that the LDS Church faked renouncement of polygamy in order to get Utah formally recognized as a state. This leads to a war between Bill and Barb and her family, culminating in Barb being excommunicated from the LDS Church after she visits the temple a final time, sponsored by her mother and sister. The Greenes also want the document and kidnap Ted's adopted daughter to force him to give it up. However, when they have the document they discover that it is a forgery; Alby faked the document in order to con money out of the church.
In the season 3 finale, Alby plots to kill both his parents to consolidate his power over the compound and to avenge a prior attempt on his life that Adaleen arranged. He and his wife Lura create a letter-bomb and he leaves it outside his mother's hotel room; it explodes when a maid's cart rolls over it and the maid and Alby are injured. Selma is arrested for kidnapping Bill's adopted niece and reveals evidence to police about Roman's involvement in Kathy's death; the DA plans to indict Roman for murder. Back at the compound Joey waits for Roman inside his home and appears to have suffocated him, avenging Kathy's death. Meanwhile Nicki is reunited with her former husband J.J. and their 14-year-old daughter Cara Lynn. When she learns that Cara Lynn is about to be placed in the "Joy Book" in order to be married off, Nicki returns to the family with Cara Lynn in tow. The season ends with Bill's family reunited and Bill declaring the beginning of their own church, with himself as leader.
HBO Canada
premiered this season day-and-date with HBO in the U.S. on January 18, 2009.
In November 2008, the show's official site, launched a massive ad campaign for the third season of Big Love, including a preview of the new season, a behind-the-scenes look at the new season, and background videos of Bill Henrickson, Barbara Dutton-Henrickson, Nicolette Grant, and Margene Heffman. In the behind-the-scenes video, Ginnifer Goodwin says, "Anything you thought could happen happens." Bill Paxton states, "I thought season 2 was vamped up, but season 3 is even more explosive." On her character, Chloë Sevigny says, "There is definitely a power struggle that goes on between the wives. You see Bill and Barb find out about some things Nicki has been hiding from them."
In January 2009, ABCnews.com reported that the series had incorporated the YFZ ranch raid into the story line.
Reuters
reported that Bella Thorne
will replace Jolean Wejbe who has played Bill and Barb's daughter Teeny for the first three seasons. Another addition to the show is Adam Beach
who plays Tommy Flute, the son of Jerry Flute (Robert Beltran
), Bill's Indian gaming business partner.
In the premiere episode of season four, viewers learn that Roman Grant's body has been hidden in a freezer for several weeks by Adaleen. Alby and his wife, Lura, move the body to Idaho to the Henricksons' newly opened, but still under construction casino. Bill is able to prevent the FBI from finding Roman before he returns Roman's body to Juniper Creek for burial.
The season presents Bill with two challengeshis campaign for public office, and his growing rift with his eldest son, Ben. Bill seeks a seat in the Utah State Senate as part of a plan to legitimize The Principlewhich faces renewed and widespread animosity from the public. Bill learns of Ben's growing attraction to Margene, and agrees that Ben should spend some time away from the house, which Ben interprets as being 'cast out' of the family. This shocks Bill's family, who recently discovered Bill's own criminal past after his exile, revealed to the public by Bill's political opponent. Bill must also grapple with Marilyn Densham (Sissy Spacek
), a powerful and conniving lobbyist whom he likens to a common criminal.
The season also develops a plotline involving J.J. marrying Adaleen. At first resistant, Adaleen accepts being "sealed" to J.J. and soon after finds that she's pregnant. Nicki is told she's infertile, even when treated by J.J.'s son, a fertility specialist. Eventually, it is revealed that J.J. has been using eugenics and inbreeding on an isolated community in Kansas
where he is a leader, and that Adaleen's pregnancy is the product of that program.
On the eve of elections, Barb unsuccessfully tries to sabotage Bill's potential win by leaking the paternity report of Ana's child thus proving Bill's extramarital affair to the media. This brings the growing rift between Bill and Barb to fore, with Barb declaring that, unlike the previous twenty years, she does not feel the need for Bill any more. To avenge J.J.'s eugenics experiments on her family with in-vitro fertilization, Adaleen sets fire to a fertility clinic office where she has trapped J.J. Walker and his cancer-stricken wife. Season 4 ends with Bill winning the election for the Utah State Senate seat and revealing to an obviously uncomfortable public that he has a plural marriage with Barb, Nicki, and Margene.
, and the trouble that comes with his new position. Because of his polygamy
, Bill faces opposition from a majority in the Senate, who attempt to pass a bill to have him impeached. Bill, however, makes a deal with the President of the Senate
to have the bill stricken down. Bill pushes plans of action to help Juniper Creek, but has the compound demolished after Alby attempts to murder Don. He plans to build a church where UEB members can worship in safety. However, the Senate tries to stop Bill by bringing forward charges of statutory rape
against him, since Margie admitted earlier that she was only sixteen when she was married to Bill. Before he can be taken to jail, Alby attempts to murder Bill in the Utah State Capitol
, but is stopped and incarcerated.
Lois develops dementia
due to a sexually-transmitted disease she contracted from Frank. The Henricksons try to take care of her, but she goes on a hunger strike
in order to be taken back to Frank, forcing the family to agree to take her back to the compound. Frank finds out how much the disease has affected her after he breaks his hip and Lois does nothing about it, besides give him a pillow to put under his head. She is put into a nursing home
where Bill and Frank both visit her.
Barb shocks the household when she tells them she believes she had a testimony to be a priesthood-holder, then refuses to attend Bill's church because of their differing theological views. She attends a Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS)
church that recognizes and provides for female priesthood. She attempts to be baptized into her new church, but realizes it isn't what she wants because her family isn't there to witness it. She then joins the family at Bill's church for Easter service.
Nicki is now the sole parent of Cara Lynn, and wants Bill to adopt her into the family. The only catch is that for Bill to adopt her, he and Nicki must be legally married. After much discussion, Barb and Bill divorce so that Bill can be legally married to Nicki, making her his first wife. When Nicki discovers that her daughter is in a relationship with her teacher, she tries to send her to a strict boarding school
without telling the rest of the family. Cara Lynn, however, runs to Barb and tells them what her mother is trying to do.
Margie becomes desperate to be around people and make new friends. She tries her hand at selling various products and, while successful, through those experiences, she finds out that there is more to life than her marriage with Bill, and decides to go on missions to help the poor.
In the final episode, Bill has been in jail for 48 hours and is released. He goes straight the Senate and tries to push for a bill to make polygamy legal. On Easter Sunday, Bill invites everyone to his church for service and more than 400 people from across the state do. During his service, he sees a vision of the old pioneers and Emma Smith (Joseph Smith, Jr.'s wife), knowing that he is making the right decision. After his service, we find Lois in her bed at the nursing home with Frank. There are vials of medication on the bedside table and the syringes have been used. Frank talks to her until she passes away beside him.
In the final moments of the series, Bill walks outside and is confronted by his neighbor, Carl, because he re-sodded his yard for him. Carl then goes into a rant then shoots Bill in the chest at close range. All three wives, who were in the kitchen making dinner, hear the shots and run outside to help Bill. In his final moments, Bill asks Barb to give him a blessing, showing her that he believes she holds the priesthood also.
The next scene is set 11 months later. Sarah has had a baby and they have just come from the christening. Barb was the one who blessed the baby boy, who is named Bill. Ben and Heather, who began dating at the beginning of the season, are now married and Margene is leaving on a mission. In the final scene, all the women embrace one another beside the dining room table and the spirit of Bill is sitting at the end of the table, watching them.
(FLDS) and taken over by the state in 2005. The FLDS is one of the most prolific and well-known polygamist groups and regards itself as the legitimate successor of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which officially discontinued polygamy in 1890. Creators Olsen and Scheffer included a drive through the twin FLDS towns of Hildale, Utah
and Colorado City
, Arizona
, as part of their research for the show.
Like the FLDS, the UEB has the distinction of possessing a temple of its own on its Kansas compound. The raid on Juniper Creek is reminiscent of the Short Creek raid
, an actual historic event from 1953 where Arizona state police and National Guard troops took action against polygamists in Colorado City. Many of the businesses owned by the 'UEB' are similar to businesses owned by the Latter Day Church of Christ (aka the Kingston Clan), another Mormon fundamentalist church. The concept for the cable show was influenced by a 2003 article published in Utah on the Darger family, members of the UAB.
, California
. The location used for filming "Henrickson’s Home Plus" scenes was The All American Home Center in Downey, California
.
The outside scenes of the three homes that Bill owns were filmed on location on Shady Lane, in the small town of Fillmore, California
.
The mall scenes from season one were filmed in the Fox Hills Mall, in Culver City, California. Other exterior shots were filmed in Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah
and Sandy, Utah
, as well as northeast Los Angeles
, California
.
The head writers
for the series are the co-creators: Mark V. Olsen
and Will Scheffer
. The writing staff includes: Patricia Breen
, Dustin Lance Black
, Doug Jung, Eileen Myers, Jennifer Schuur, Doug Stockstill, Jeanette Collin, and Mimi Friedman.
Directors of the series include Jim McKay
, Adam Davidson, Rodrigo Garcia, Charles McDougall
, Sarah Pia Anderson, Dan Attias
, Burr Steers
, Michael Spiller
, Alan Taylor
, John Strickland, Mary Harron
, Steve Shill
, Julian Farino
, Michael Lehmann
, and Alan Poul
(former executive producer of Six Feet Under).
The show's producers are Alexa Junge
, Ann Holm, Ron Binkowski, Bernadette Caulfield, Jeanette Collins, Mimi Friedman, Shane Keller, David Knoller
, Mark V. Olsen, Will Scheffer, Gary Goetzman
, and Tom Hanks
.
recorded a complete soundtrack to the second season, released as Big Love: Hymnal
on August 19, 2008.
The theme song to the series from Seasons 1 through 3 was The Beach Boys
' "God Only Knows
". As of Season 4, the song "Home", performed by the British band Engineers
, was adopted as the show's theme song along with a new title sequence. "God Only Knows" was covered by Natalie Maines
for the series finale.
awarded the series' first season an average score of 72 out of 100, indicating favorable reviews. The second season was awarded a rating of 71 out of 100, indicating similarly favorable reviews. The third season was awarded a score of 79 out of 100, also indicating favorable reviews. Season four was awarded a score of 70 out of 100, continuing the series' trend of positive critical response.
Heather Havrilesky of Salon.com
said of Big Love, "There are elements of this new series that have a quirkiness that might seem deliberate or overly clever against a different backdrop, but that feels natural in its own gracefully odd environment."
Time
magazine's James Poniewozik named it one of the Top 10 Returning Series of 2007, ranking it at #5.
However, the Phoenix New Times
's Robert L. Pela called the show a "hot-soccer-mom fantasy" and "about as down and dirty as the old sitcom Three's Company
", and said its portrayal of polygamy was "just as tidy as a deodorant commercial".
In contrast, the San Francisco Chronicle
's Tim Goodman called Bill Paxton a "wonderfully underappreciated actor" and the show itself "compelling, but not easy".
ceremony in an episode of Big Love. The LDS Church also stated that the show had continued to blur the distinction between the LDS Church and "the show's fictional non-Mormon characters."
for Best Drama Series in 2007
. Bill Paxton
was also nominated for the Best Actor in a Television Drama Golden Globe for his role as Bill Henrickson
.
The third season was nominated for the Emmy
for Outstanding Drama Series
.
In 2010 Chloë Sevigny
won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a TV role for her portrayal of Nicolette Grant in season 3 of Big Love.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
that practices polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
. Big Love stars Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
William "Bill" Paxton is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic...
, Jeanne Tripplehorn
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Jeanne Marie Tripplehorn is an American film and television actress. She was brought to the public's attention through her supporting role in the 1992 film Basic Instinct, and since 2006 has starred opposite Bill Paxton in the HBO drama Big Love.-Early life:Tripplehorn was born in Tulsa,...
, Chloë Sevigny
Chloë Sevigny
Chloë Stevens Sevigny is an American film actress, fashion designer and former model. Sevigny gained reputation for her eclectic fashion sense and developed a broad career in the fashion industry in the mid 1990s, both for modeling and for her work at New York's Sassy magazine, which labeled her...
, Ginnifer Goodwin, Douglas Smith
Douglas Smith (actor)
Douglas Alexander Smith is a Canadian-American actor most notable for his work on the HBO series, Big Love as Ben Henrickson, the eldest son of polygamist Bill Henrickson.-Life and career:...
, Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern
Bruce MacLeish Dern is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters...
, Grace Zabriskie
Grace Zabriskie
Grace Zabriskie is an American actress. She has appeared in many popular American films but, she is best known for her work in television. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks, Seinfeld, and Big Love.-Early life:Zabriskie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, Mary Kay Place
Mary Kay Place
Mary Kay Place is an American actress, singer, director and screen writer. She is best known as portraying Loretta Haggers on the television series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, a role which won her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series in 1977...
, Matt Ross
Matt Ross
Matthew Brandon "Matt" Ross is an American actor best known for his role as Alby Grant in the HBO series, Big Love.-Filmography:*Urusei Yatsura 2 *Desperation Rising *PCU...
, and Cassi Thomson
Cassi Thomson
Cassi Nicole Thomson is an Australian-born American teen actress and singer. She has guest-starred in several television shows, such as Without a Trace, ER, House M.D. and Big Love. She has recently appeared in a made for television movie called Our First Christmas in 2008...
.
The series premiered in the United States on March 12, 2006 following the sixth-season premiere of the HBO series The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
. The show ran for five seasons, ending on March 20, 2011.
Overview
The show was co-created by Mark V. OlsenMark V. Olsen
Mark V. Olsen is a U.S. TV producer and screenwriter. He is the co-creator and executive producer of the HBO series Big Love along with writing and life partner Will Scheffer. In 2007, Olsen and Scheffer won a TV Writers Guild of America Award for the pilot and first episode of Big...
and Will Scheffer
Will Scheffer
Will Scheffer is an American playwright and co-creator and executive producer of Big Love with longtime life-partner Mark V. Olsen.His writing credits include Big Love: In the Beginning, Ellis Island, Duck Town, Easter , In the Gloaming, The Pact and Citizen Baines.In 1997, Scheffer was honored...
, who also served as executive producers
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
. Olsen and Scheffer spent almost three years researching the premise of the show, with the intent of creating a fair portrayal of polygamy in America without being judgmental.
Music
The theme song for the final two seasons of the series was "Home" by the band EngineersEngineers (band)
Engineers are a British shoegazing/dream pop band. The band was formed in London in 2003 by singer/guitarist Simon Phipps, bassist/guitarist/keyboardist Mark Peters, bassist/guitarist Dan MacBean, and drummer Andrew Sweeney...
. During the first three seasons, "God Only Knows
God Only Knows
"God Only Knows" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. It is the eighth track on the group's 11th studio album, Pet Sounds , and one of their most widely recognized songs. "God Only Knows" was composed and produced by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Tony Asher and lead vocal by Carl...
" by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
played during the opening titles. The musical score for the series was composed by Anton Sanko. Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh is an American musician, composer, singer and painter. He is the co-founder of the new wave band Devo and has been its lead singer since 1972. His other musical projects include work for television series, films, and video games....
composed music for the first season, while David Byrne
David Byrne (musician)
David Byrne is a musician and artist, best known as a founding member and principal songwriter of the American new wave band Talking Heads, which was active between 1975 and 1991. Since then, Byrne has released his own solo recordings and worked with various media including film, photography,...
was in charge of music during the second season.
Leading cast
- Bill PaxtonBill PaxtonWilliam "Bill" Paxton is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic...
as Bill HenricksonBill HenricksonWilliam Orville "Bill" Henrickson is the fictional protagonist husband in a polygamous family in the HBO series Big Love, portrayed by Bill Paxton. He is married to three wives, Barbara Henrickson, Nicolette Grant and Margene Heffman...
– Husband to Barb, Nicki, and Marge. He is a practicing polygamist and, at the end of season 4, was elected as a Utah Republican state senator. - Jeanne TripplehornJeanne TripplehornJeanne Marie Tripplehorn is an American film and television actress. She was brought to the public's attention through her supporting role in the 1992 film Basic Instinct, and since 2006 has starred opposite Bill Paxton in the HBO drama Big Love.-Early life:Tripplehorn was born in Tulsa,...
as Barbara "Barb" Henrickson – Bill's first wife. Mother of Sarah, Ben, and Tancy ("Teeny"). - Chloë SevignyChloë SevignyChloë Stevens Sevigny is an American film actress, fashion designer and former model. Sevigny gained reputation for her eclectic fashion sense and developed a broad career in the fashion industry in the mid 1990s, both for modeling and for her work at New York's Sassy magazine, which labeled her...
as Nicolette "Nicki" Grant – Bill's second wife, Barb's former caretaker (during her bout with cancer) and Roman Grant's daughter. Mother of Wayne and Raymond (with Bill), and Cara Lynn (with J.J.) - Ginnifer Goodwin as Margene "Margie" HeffmanMargene HeffmanMargene "Margie" Heffman is a character on Big Love, the fictional HBO television series set among contemporary polygamists in Utah. The role is played by Ginnifer Goodwin...
– Bill's third and youngest wife. Mother of Lester, Aaron, and Nell. - Amanda SeyfriedAmanda SeyfriedAmanda Michelle Seyfried is an American actress, singer-songwriter and former child model. She began her career as a child model when she was 11, and at 15 began her career as an actress, starting off with uncredited roles and moving on to recurring roles on As the World Turns and All My...
as Sarah HenricksonSarah HenricksonSarah Elizabeth Henrickson is a character on the HBO series Big Love. She is portrayed by Amanda Seyfried. Sarah is the eldest child of Bill Henrickson with his first and legal wife Barbara Henrickson...
– Bill and Barb's first daughter, struggling with her father's polygamy. She married Scott Quittman despite her parents' initial reservations. - Douglas SmithDouglas Smith (actor)Douglas Alexander Smith is a Canadian-American actor most notable for his work on the HBO series, Big Love as Ben Henrickson, the eldest son of polygamist Bill Henrickson.-Life and career:...
as Ben HenricksonBen HenricksonBenjamin "Ben" Henrickson is a character on the HBO series Big Love. He is portrayed by Douglas Smith. Ben is the second child and oldest son of Bill Henrickson with his first and once legal wife, Barbara Henrickson. As of "The Lost Boys", he is 17 years old...
– Bill and Barb's son. Early in the series, he expresses his sexual attraction to Margene, his third mother, who rejects it as incestuous. He has stated his desire to follow The Principle—to practice polygamy, as his father does.
Supporting cast
- Matt RossMatt RossMatthew Brandon "Matt" Ross is an American actor best known for his role as Alby Grant in the HBO series, Big Love.-Filmography:*Urusei Yatsura 2 *Desperation Rising *PCU...
as Alby GrantAlby GrantAlbert "Alby" Grant, played by Matt Ross, is a fictional character from the HBO series Big Love. The character is loosely based on the real life polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.-Overview:...
– Roman Grant's closeted gay son and the heir-apparent 'Prophet' of Juniper Creek. - Shawn DoyleShawn DoyleShawn Doyle is a Canadian actor.Doyle was born and raised in Wabush, Newfoundland, the son of actor Jerry Doyle. He moved to Toronto to study theatre at York University....
as Joey Henrickson – Bill's brother, Wanda's husband. Former professional football player with the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. He attempts to enter into polygamy like Bill and his forefathers, albeit relunctantly at first. (Seasons 1-4) - Melora WaltersMelora WaltersMelora Walters is an American actress.-Personal life:Walters was born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia to American parents. She was partly raised there and in Holland. Walters attended high school at Lake Forest Academy-Ferry Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois...
as Wanda Henrickson – Bill's sister-in-law, wife to Joey Henrickson, and sister of Nicki's first husband, J.J. Wanda's psychological problems surface when she tries to poison people who cross her or her family. (Seasons 1-4) - Grace ZabriskieGrace ZabriskieGrace Zabriskie is an American actress. She has appeared in many popular American films but, she is best known for her work in television. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks, Seinfeld, and Big Love.-Early life:Zabriskie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana...
as Lois Henrickson – Bill's mother. In a long-time feudand even attempted homicideagainst Bill's father, Frank Harlow - Bruce DernBruce DernBruce MacLeish Dern is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters...
as Frank Harlow – Bill's abusive and domineering father who exiled Bill from Juniper Creek at age 14. In a strong, perennial, and sometimes violent feud with his wife, Lois. - Mireille Enos as JoDean Marquart and Kathy Marquart – Kathy is Joey's second wife-to-be until her death in a car accidentCar accidentA traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
while being chased by Roman Grant. She lived in Joey and Wanda's home and assisted with the care of their infant son. Her twin sister, JoDean, is Frank's newest wife. (Seasons 3-4) - Harry Dean StantonHarry Dean StantonHarry Dean Stanton is an American actor, musician, and singer. Stanton's career has spanned over fifty years, which has seen him star in such films as Paris, Texas, Kelly's Heroes, Dillinger, Alien, Repo Man, The Last Temptation of Christ, Wild at Heart, The Green Mile and The Pledge...
as Roman GrantRoman GrantRoman Grant is a fictional character in the HBO series, Big Love, and is portrayed by Harry Dean Stanton. He was the prophet of the Juniper Creek Compound, and is the father of Nicolette Grant and Alby Grant. The character is loosely based on the real life polygamist leader Rulon...
– Nicki & Alby's father, self-proclaimed Prophet, and former leader of the Juniper Creek compound. He was smothered to death by Joey Henrickson to avenge Roman's involvement in the death of Joey's fiancée, Kathy. - Mary Kay PlaceMary Kay PlaceMary Kay Place is an American actress, singer, director and screen writer. She is best known as portraying Loretta Haggers on the television series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, a role which won her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series in 1977...
as Adaleen Grant – One of Roman Grant's wives and Nicki and Alby's mother. Although sixth wife to Roman, Adaleen was his most trusted confidante and was able to influence Roman's political decisions. After Roman's death, Alby sends Adaleen to be a wife of J.J., against Adaleen's and Nicki's wishes. - Željko IvanekŽeljko IvanekŽeljko Ivanek is an Emmy award-winning Slovenian American actor best known for his role as Ray Fiske on Damages. He is also known for playing Blake Sterling on short-lived NBC series The Event and Emile Danko on Heroes....
as J.J. Percy Walker – Nicki's first husband and father of Nicki's eldest daughter, Cara Lynn. JJ is domineering, and with Alby's pull, forces the widowed Adaleen to marry him. - Cassi ThomsonCassi ThomsonCassi Nicole Thomson is an Australian-born American teen actress and singer. She has guest-starred in several television shows, such as Without a Trace, ER, House M.D. and Big Love. She has recently appeared in a made for television movie called Our First Christmas in 2008...
as Cara Lynn Walker - Nicki and J.J.'s daughter. - Jolean WejbeJolean WejbeJolean Nicole Wejbe is an American teen actress. Wejbe is best known for playing Tancy "Teenie" Hendrickson on the HBO drama series Big Love.-Early life:...
as Tancy ("Teenie") Henrickson – Bill and Barb's younger daughter (replaced in Season 4 by Bella ThorneBella ThorneAnnabella Avery "Bella" Thorne is an American teen actress, dancer, singer, and model. She is a child model and actor with appearances in more than 20 films and television series and more than 60 commercials, she is best known for her role as the aspiring young dancer, CeCe Jones on the Disney...
). - Brian KerwinBrian KerwinBrian Kerwin is an American actor.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Kerwin won the Theatre World Award in 1988 for the off-Broadway play Emily. His Broadway theatre credits include the 1997 revival of The Little Foxes and the Elaine May comedy After the Night and the Music in 2005...
as Eddie Henrickson – Lois' younger brother, Bill's uncle. - Keegan Holst as Wayne Henrickson – Bill and Nicki's eldest son.
- Garrett Grey as Raymond Henrickson – Bill and Nicki's second son.
- Joel McKinnon MillerJoel McKinnon MillerJoel McKinnon Miller, or sometimes credited as Joel McKinnon, is an American film and television actor who has been living in Los Angeles since 1991. His most significant role is that of Don Embry on HBO's drama series Big Love.-Life and career:...
as Don Embry – Bill's business partner and best friend. A polygamist until two of his wives ran away, leaving him a monogamistMonogamyMonogamy /Gr. μονός+γάμος - one+marriage/ a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse at any one time. In current usage monogamy often refers to having one sexual partner irrespective of marriage or reproduction...
both in spirit and in fact. He was asked by Bill to take a 'bullet'by confessing his polygamy to a reporterto allow Bill's state senate candidacy to move forward. - Tina MajorinoTina MajorinoTina Marie Majorino is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as Andre; When a Man Loves a Woman; Corrina, Corrina; and Waterworld...
as Heather Tuttle – Sarah Henrickson's co-worker and best friend - Branka KatićBranka KaticBranka Katić is a Serbian actress known for appearing in the movies Black Cat, White Cat and Public Enemies, and in the TV series Big Love.-Career:...
as Ana Markovič – Bill's former fourth wife. She and Bill married, then she divorced the family (late in the third season). Bill and his wives recently discovered that she conceived a child with Bill prior to their 48-hour marriage. - Daveigh ChaseDaveigh ChaseDaveigh Elizabeth Chase is an American actress, singer, and voice over artist best known for playing Rhonda Volmer in the HBO series Big Love, Samara Morgan in The Ring and Lilo Pelekai in Lilo & Stitch.-Early life:Chase was born Daveigh Elizabeth Chase-Schwallier in Las Vegas, Nevada, but her...
as Rhonda VolmerRhonda VolmerRhonda Volmer is a fictional character in the HBO series Big Love, and is portrayed by Daveigh Chase. She is the 16-year-old former bride-to-be of the now late Roman Grant.-Escape from the Compound:...
– A young sociopath teenager who was to be married to Roman Grant. During Roman's trial, Rhonda was sent away so she would not take the stand and damage the defense's case. It remains unknown whether her "absence" led to Roman eventually being found not guilty of his crimes. - Adam BeachAdam BeachAdam Ruebin Beach is a Canadian Saulteaux actor.He is best known for his roles as Tommy on Walker, Texas Ranger, Kickin' Wing in Joe Dirt, Marine Private First Class Ira Hayes in Flags of Our Fathers, Private Ben Yazzie in Windtalkers, Dr...
as Tommy Flute – Jerry Flute's son and a manager of the Blackfoot Casino. - Luke AskewLuke AskewLuke Askew is an American actor best known for his role in the 1969 film Easy Rider.Askew was born in Macon, Georgia. He made his film debut in Otto Preminger's Hurry Sundown , but was first noticed as an actor for his role in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke...
as Hollis S. Green – Patriarch and proclaimed Prophet of a rival polygamist group. Hollis serves as one of show's antagonists. His sect frequently uses violence and kidnapping for its ends. - Gregory ItzinGregory ItzinGregory Martin Itzin is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his role as disgraced U.S. President Charles Logan in the television series 24.-Early life:...
as Senator Blake Barn – The Republican Senate President of the Utah State Senate. - Robert PatrickRobert PatrickRobert Hammond Patrick, Jr. is an American actor, known for his leading and supporting roles in a number of films and television shows....
as Bud Mayberry – Leader of a polygamist fringe group.
Recurring
- Aaron PaulAaron PaulAaron Michael Paul is an American actor. After appearing in several roles in American television, including a recurring role on the HBO series Big Love, Paul came to prominence in the late 2000s for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Jesse Pinkman in the AMC series Breaking Bad, for which he...
as Scott Quittman – Sarah's husband. - Judith HoagJudith HoagJudith Hoag is an American actress.She is perhaps best known for portraying April O'Neil in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, as well as in the 1998 feature film Armageddon...
as Cindy Dutton-Price – Barb's sister. - Patrick FabianPatrick FabianPatrick Fabian is an American actor. He has played numerous roles in TV shows , and after twenty years of acting achieved a breakthrough of sorts in the 2010 movie The Last Exorcism.-Life:...
as Ted Price – Cindy's husband. - Aidan Gonzales and Andrew Gonzales as Joey Henrickson Jr. – Joey and Wanda's son.
- Christopher Randazzo and Zachary Randazzo as Joey Henrickson Jr. – Joey and Wanda's son. (Season 4)
- Ailish and Julia O'Connor as Nell Henrickson – Bill and Margene's daughter. (Season 4)
- Anne DudekAnne DudekAnne Louise Dudek is an American actress, known for her role as Dr. Amber Volakis on the television show House and her leading role on UK television series The Book Group as well as playing Francine Hanson in the series Mad Men...
as Lura Grant – Third and favorite wife of Alby. She helps Alby try to kill Roman in both the second and third season. - Ellen BurstynEllen BurstynEllen Burstyn is a leading American actress of film, stage, and television. Burstyn's career began in theatre during the late 1950s, and over the next ten years she appeared in several films and television series before joining the Actors Studio in 1967...
as Nancy Dutton – Barb's semi-estranged mother. - Mark L. YoungMark L. Young-Filmography:- External links :...
as Franky – Frank's son with Nita. Despite the significant age difference between Bill and Franky, Bill considers Franky to be as much his brother as Joey is. Franky is the boyfriend of Rhonda Volmer during the first half of the third season. - Wendy PhillipsWendy PhillipsWendy Phillips is an American actress, noted for playing David Selby's last wife, Lauren Daniels, during the final season of Falcon Crest and for playing Gerald McRaney's wife, Claire Greene, on both Touched by an Angel and Promised Land...
as Peg Embry – Don's wife, Home Plus' head bookkeeper. - Kyle GallnerKyle GallnerKyle Gallner is an American actor. He is possibly best known for his portrayal of Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas in the Teen neo-noir television series Veronica Mars, and for guest-starring in teen sci-fi drama Smallville as superhero Bart Allen, an adaptation of the character of The Flash and...
as Jason Embry – Don and Peg's son, Ben's best friend. Jason isn't fond of polygamy. - Annie Fitzgerald as Verna – Don's second wife.
- Renee Albert as Julep ("Jo-Jo") – Don's third wife.
- Carlos JacottCarlos JacottCarlos Jacott is an American film and television actor. He has appeared in over 40 television shows including Firefly and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and playing a demon on both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel....
as Carl Martin – A neighbor of the Henrickson's. - Audrey WasilewskiAudrey WasilewskiAudrey Wasilewski is an American actress and voice actress.-Life and career:Wasilewski's first role came in the 1994 Japanese animated film Heisei tanuki gassen pompoko, where she was one of the additional voices dubbed in English...
as Pam Martin – Carl's wife. - Jodie Markell as Wendy Hunt – Bill's secretary.
- Sarah JonesSarah Jones (screen actor)Sarah Jones is an American actress.Jones has played roles in Huff, Ugly Betty and Big Love. She played the youngest of three sisters who run a wedding planner business in Fox's short-lived dramedy series The Wedding Bells. She will be seen in two upcoming movies, Still Green and The Blue Hour...
as Brynn – Ben's ex-girlfriend. - Lawrence O'Donnell as Lee Hatcher – Bill's attorney.
- Jim BeaverJim BeaverJames Norman "Jim" Beaver, Jr. is an American stage, film, and television actor, playwright, screenwriter, and film historian...
as Carter Reese – Business acquaintance of Bill. - Sandy MartinSandy MartinSandy Martin is an actress who has over 60 film credits and has been an actress, producer, director and writer in professional theater productions....
as Selma Green – Hollis' first wife and partner, Roman's youngest sister. A woman, but usually dressed in a man's suit with a male hairstyle and a masculine-deep voice. - Carli Coleman as Brandy Thissel – Bill's ex-con cousin.
- Robert BeltranRobert BeltranRobert Adame Beltran is an American actor, known for his role as Commander Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager.-Early life:...
as Jerry Flute – Business representative of a Native American reservation that wants to build a casino with Bill's collaboration. - Noa TishbyNoa TishbyNoa Tohar Tishby is an Israeli actress, producer, model and singer, currently residing in Los Angeles, California, in the United States.-Career:In her homeland of Israel, Noa Tishby’s name is well known...
as Ladonna Flute – Jerry's assertive, opinionated wife. - Michele GreeneMichele GreeneMichele Dominguez Greene is an American actress, singer, and songwriter, perhaps most well-known for her role as attorney Abigail "Abby" Perkins in L.A. Law from 1986 - 1991. She returned to that role in 2002 for the TV "reunion" film L.A...
as Sheila Jackson White – Channel 9 TV reporter. - Charles Esten as Ray Henry – Head Prosecutor for the Roman Grant case. Had a fling with Nicki before he learned of her involvements.
- Ben Koldyke as Dale Tomasson – Alby's lover, who hanged himself after Lura revealed his affair to his wife and family.
- Kevin RankinKevin RankinKevin Rankin is a retired American/Turkish professional basketball player. He stands 2.10 m tall and played the power forward and center positions.-Amateur career:...
as Verlan Walker – Cousin to Cara Lynn. He was kicked out when he became a teenager. It is revealed that he is married to Rhonda Vollmer with whom he has a child. - Christian CampbellChristian CampbellChristian Bethune Campbell is a Canadian stage and screen actor. He is married to actress America Olivo.-Personal life:Campbell was born in Toronto, Ontario. Campbell's mother, Marnie , is a yoga instructor and psychologist from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
as Greg Ivey – Cara Lynn's high school math teacher and later lover.
Plot
The series revolves around Bill HenricksonBill Henrickson
William Orville "Bill" Henrickson is the fictional protagonist husband in a polygamous family in the HBO series Big Love, portrayed by Bill Paxton. He is married to three wives, Barbara Henrickson, Nicolette Grant and Margene Heffman...
, his three wives (Barb, first/legal wife; Nicki, second wife; and Margene
Margene Heffman
Margene "Margie" Heffman is a character on Big Love, the fictional HBO television series set among contemporary polygamists in Utah. The role is played by Ginnifer Goodwin...
, third wife) and their (combined) nine children. Henrickson lives with his family in three neighboring houses in Sandy, Utah
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
, a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Salt Lake City.
Season 1
Season 1 introduces the main characters and revolves around the family's struggles to live their polygamous lifestyle while keeping it a secret from the outside world. While Bill goes about expanding his chain of home improvement stores ("Henrickson’s Home Plus"), he struggles to balance his three wives and his strained relationship with Nicki's father, Church prophet Roman Grant. From his compound on Juniper Creek, Roman seeks to gain a greater share of the profits from Bill's business ventures. Bill, who is resentful towards Roman for expelling him from Juniper Creek as a teenager, opposes this, and joins with his brother Joey, a former NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player who returned to Juniper Creek after alcohol addiction, to gain a seat on the Church's board of directors in order to undercut Roman's considerable influence and to maintain a level of autonomy from his controlling grasp.
Bill's first wife, Barb, is shown to be the anchor for the plural Henrickson family, but as the show progresses, it is revealed that Barb has mixed feelings about the concept of polygamy, and only her love for Bill makes her stay. Meanwhile, second wife Nicki (daughter of Roman) struggles to fit in with modern life outside the compound and her own desire for power within the family dynamic. Nicki compensates for her isolation by developing an addiction to shopping, leading her to accumulate $60,000 of debt in credit card charges. Third wife Margene, 24 years old, struggles to find her place within the family, as both Barb and Nicki look down on her, due to her youth and immaturity.
Most of season one focuses on the family's struggle to keep their secret from their friends, neighbors, and coworkers. However, things come to a head when Barb is nominated for a "Mother of the Year" Award, resulting in her and Bill being outed as a polygamist couple. Meanwhile, Joey's mentally unstable wife, Wanda, poisons Alby Grant (Roman's son and chief minion) when Alby discovers that Bill is using Joey as a pawn in his scheme to undermine Roman's power within the Church, and threatens the two.
Season 2
Season 2 picks up two weeks after the end of season one, as Barb temporarily leaves home and then returns. Though the outing does not damage the family's reputation or the Henrickson business, it causes Bill to decide to take steps to ensure his family's financial security by trying to buy an electronic gambling company called Weber Gaming.The second season also expands upon the political battles at Juniper Creek. When Roman and his wife inform Alby that they are willing to allow Wanda and Joey to get away with their attempt on his life in exchange for using them as leverage against Bill, Alby alerts outside authorities, who arrest Joey (who claims credit for poisoning Alby in order to protect Wanda), which ultimately leads to a raid of the compound.
Meanwhile, Roman's newest intended bride, 16-year-old Rhonda Volmer
Rhonda Volmer
Rhonda Volmer is a fictional character in the HBO series Big Love, and is portrayed by Daveigh Chase. She is the 16-year-old former bride-to-be of the now late Roman Grant.-Escape from the Compound:...
, secretly leaves the compound to live with the Henricksons. The family is quick to take Rhonda in, thinking that she is an innocent trying to escape being forced to marry the elderly Roman. However, it is quickly revealed that Rhonda is a pathological liar and sociopath who left the compound only to exploit Roman's legal troubles in order to get media coverage for her story in the newspaper and on TV.
Rhonda's departure and Alby's actions lead to Bill's manipulating Roman and the Greenes (a renegade polygamist sect that operates on the fringes of society) against each other in order to claim Weber Gaming. Roman is shot by the Greenes when the police finally try to arrest the Greenes, forcing them to flee. With Roman hospitalized, Alby quickly seizes power, and Roman is arrested by the police for violating the Mann Act. Alby's power is ultimately secured when his mother flees Juniper Creek and Bill doesn't challenge Alby's claim of prophethood.
On the home front, Nicki struggles with Bill's decision to send their son to a Catholic school (which is far enough out of the way for Bill to claim Nicki as his sole wife) while Margene and Barb wage war against each other for the "head wife" position. This is complicated when Margene befriends Ana, a Serbian waitress and dental hygienist
Dental hygienist
thumb|right|300px|Dental hygienist holding a scalerA dental hygienist is a licensed dental professional who specializes in preventive oral health, typically focusing on techniques in oral hygiene. Local dental regulations determine the scope of practice of dental hygienists...
, after witnessing Bill flirting with her at a diner. Margene encourages Bill to bring Ana into the family as a fourth wife in order to gain an ally against Barb and Nicki.
Barb, after a tearful reunion with her estranged mother and a pep talk with Roman's wife, reasserts herself as first wife by outing the family as polygamist to her nosy neighbors and informing Bill that she will finally leave him once and for all if he tries to bring a fourth wife into the family.
Meanwhile, Sarah is seeking help in dealing with her family's lifestyle through a support group for ex-Mormons, leading to her falling for a man ten years her senior. While Sarah ultimately gives up her virginity to her new boyfriend (mainly to spite her father, who is indifferent towards Sarah's growing disdain for him and polygamy), Ben gives himself over to his father's views on polygamy. At the close of the season, Ben is dating twin girls from Juniper Creek whose goal is to marry one man between them, causing Barb to consider sending him away to live with her nonpolygamist mother.
Season 3
In the third season of Big Love, Bill pursues Ana, a waitress he met in season two, despite his pledge to Barb to end the affair. Barb warms to the idea after she spends time with Ana, and sees in her a confidante without Margene's childishness or Nicki's manipulativeness. After Barb agrees to allow Bill to marry her, Ana finds herself chafing at Bill's authoritarianism and sees her presence causing Nicki, Barb, and Margene to fight repeatedly. At the end of season 3, Ana "divorces" herself from the family, citing her inability to deal with the polygamist lifestyle and her fear that her staying in the marriage would destroy the already fragile bonds among Bill's three wives.Another focus in season 3 is on Roman Grant's trial, as Nicki infiltrates the prosecution's office building as a clerical worker (using Margene's name) to uncover the identities of the chief witnesses against Roman at Adalen's request. The key witness is Joey's intended second wife Kathy, whom Roman forced to marry when she was only 14. Two of the witnesses are intimidated into not testifying, while Rhonda (who now seeks to sue Roman and Juniper Creek in civil court) is given $30,000 by Adaleen and ordered to flee town after Adaleen lies to her about Roman no longer loving her. Kathy's testimony is negated by her twin sister JoDean, who tells the court that due to the Juniper Creek policy of not celebrating birthdays, and their lack of a birth certificate due to being born at home, the sisters have never agreed on how old they are; JoDean has always believed they are older than Kathy does. The defense argues this means Kathy may not have been 14 when she married as she claims, but might have been of age. Roman is acquitted and Nicki, who was forcibly married off at 15 to an older man who saw her picture in one of Roman's "Joy Books," shoves her father down a flight of stairs. Nicki's employment leads to a flirtation with Ray Henry (Chip Esten
Chip Esten
Charles "Chip" Esten Puskar III is an American comedian, actor and singer known for his appearances on the improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?....
), who is prosecuting her father without knowing Nicki's true identity.
Meanwhile, Sarah is preparing to leave home for college at Arizona State when she discovers that she is pregnant. She tells Ben and Heather, but not her parents or Scott, the 28-year old father. At first she plans to give her child up for adoption, but ultimately she decides to keep it. Then, on a family vacation, Barb finds Nicki's birth-control pills and thinks they belong to Sarah. Barb's tirade against her daughter leads to Nicki admitting that the pills are hers: she'd been on the Pill for years while lying to Barb and Bill about wanting more children. The next day, Sarah miscarries and Nicki convinces her to come clean about the pregnancy and miscarriage. While Bill attempts to be supportive of Sarah by buying her a new car and refusing to judge her decision to be sexually active, Barb's relationship with Sarah is severely damaged. Sarah decides not to attend college, much to the dismay of Heather, who had changed her future plans to attend the University of Utah to attend Arizona State to help Sarah with the baby.
Joey has announced to Bill that he, Kathy, and Wanda are getting married, and he asks Bill to seal
Sealing (Mormonism)
In Mormonism, a sealing is an ordinance , performed in temples by a person holding the sealing power. The purpose of this ordinance is to seal familiar relationships, making possible the existence of family relationships throughout eternity. LDS teachings place great importance on the specific...
them. Furious at Roman's acquittal, Kathy has been gathering resistance on the Juniper Creek compound against Roman, threatening his waning authority within the compound (due to Alby consolidating his own power base). Roman has Kathy kidnapped hours before her wedding in order to force her to marry rival Hollis Greene, who is revealed to be Roman's brother-in-law and who will be immediately shipped off to Mexico, where Kathy will never see Joey or Wanda again. After stabbing Hollis's wife Selma with a pitchfork, Kathy steals a pickup truck and tries to flee. Roman forcibly rams her vehicle from behind and it plows into an electrical pole. Her body is subsequently dumped in a ravine and her death staged to look like an accident. At the funeral a few days later, Joey accuses Roman of murdering his intended wife. Joey later confronts Adaleen in her hotel room and tries to coerce a confession out of her about what she knows.
While Nicki becomes entangled with her boss, due to Ray's attraction to "Margene," Bill attempts to forge an alliance to bring down Roman for his part in Kathy's death. The real Margene discovers Nicki's use of her identity and her flirtatious relationship with Ray, and eventually exposes them. Ray denounces the entire family and vows to prosecute Nicki for illegal actions during the Grant trial. Bill decides to separate from Nicki, who chooses to retreat to the compound and renew her relationship with Alby. Meanwhile, Sarah reunites with Scott and after telling him about the miscarriage, proposes marriage to him.
Elsewhere, Bill and Alby broker a deal with Bill's brother-in-law Ted, who is seeking a Mormon document implying that the LDS Church faked renouncement of polygamy in order to get Utah formally recognized as a state. This leads to a war between Bill and Barb and her family, culminating in Barb being excommunicated from the LDS Church after she visits the temple a final time, sponsored by her mother and sister. The Greenes also want the document and kidnap Ted's adopted daughter to force him to give it up. However, when they have the document they discover that it is a forgery; Alby faked the document in order to con money out of the church.
In the season 3 finale, Alby plots to kill both his parents to consolidate his power over the compound and to avenge a prior attempt on his life that Adaleen arranged. He and his wife Lura create a letter-bomb and he leaves it outside his mother's hotel room; it explodes when a maid's cart rolls over it and the maid and Alby are injured. Selma is arrested for kidnapping Bill's adopted niece and reveals evidence to police about Roman's involvement in Kathy's death; the DA plans to indict Roman for murder. Back at the compound Joey waits for Roman inside his home and appears to have suffocated him, avenging Kathy's death. Meanwhile Nicki is reunited with her former husband J.J. and their 14-year-old daughter Cara Lynn. When she learns that Cara Lynn is about to be placed in the "Joy Book" in order to be married off, Nicki returns to the family with Cara Lynn in tow. The season ends with Bill's family reunited and Bill declaring the beginning of their own church, with himself as leader.
HBO Canada
HBO Canada
HBO Canada is a Canadian television channel, which airs programming sourced from the HBO subscription service in the United States. HBO Canada is not available as a standalone channel, but as one channel within the TMN and Movie Central multiplexes....
premiered this season day-and-date with HBO in the U.S. on January 18, 2009.
In November 2008, the show's official site, launched a massive ad campaign for the third season of Big Love, including a preview of the new season, a behind-the-scenes look at the new season, and background videos of Bill Henrickson, Barbara Dutton-Henrickson, Nicolette Grant, and Margene Heffman. In the behind-the-scenes video, Ginnifer Goodwin says, "Anything you thought could happen happens." Bill Paxton states, "I thought season 2 was vamped up, but season 3 is even more explosive." On her character, Chloë Sevigny says, "There is definitely a power struggle that goes on between the wives. You see Bill and Barb find out about some things Nicki has been hiding from them."
In January 2009, ABCnews.com reported that the series had incorporated the YFZ ranch raid into the story line.
Season 4
The fourth season of Big Love premiered on January 10, 2010. It was further announced that Amanda Seyfried, who plays Bill and Barb's daughter Sarah, will leave the show after the completion of the season in order to pursue a film career full time. However, she did decide to come back for the show's series finale.Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
reported that Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne
Annabella Avery "Bella" Thorne is an American teen actress, dancer, singer, and model. She is a child model and actor with appearances in more than 20 films and television series and more than 60 commercials, she is best known for her role as the aspiring young dancer, CeCe Jones on the Disney...
will replace Jolean Wejbe who has played Bill and Barb's daughter Teeny for the first three seasons. Another addition to the show is Adam Beach
Adam Beach
Adam Ruebin Beach is a Canadian Saulteaux actor.He is best known for his roles as Tommy on Walker, Texas Ranger, Kickin' Wing in Joe Dirt, Marine Private First Class Ira Hayes in Flags of Our Fathers, Private Ben Yazzie in Windtalkers, Dr...
who plays Tommy Flute, the son of Jerry Flute (Robert Beltran
Robert Beltran
Robert Adame Beltran is an American actor, known for his role as Commander Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager.-Early life:...
), Bill's Indian gaming business partner.
In the premiere episode of season four, viewers learn that Roman Grant's body has been hidden in a freezer for several weeks by Adaleen. Alby and his wife, Lura, move the body to Idaho to the Henricksons' newly opened, but still under construction casino. Bill is able to prevent the FBI from finding Roman before he returns Roman's body to Juniper Creek for burial.
The season presents Bill with two challengeshis campaign for public office, and his growing rift with his eldest son, Ben. Bill seeks a seat in the Utah State Senate as part of a plan to legitimize The Principlewhich faces renewed and widespread animosity from the public. Bill learns of Ben's growing attraction to Margene, and agrees that Ben should spend some time away from the house, which Ben interprets as being 'cast out' of the family. This shocks Bill's family, who recently discovered Bill's own criminal past after his exile, revealed to the public by Bill's political opponent. Bill must also grapple with Marilyn Densham (Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek is an American actress and singer. She came to international prominence for her for role as Carrie White in Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film Carrie for which she earned her first Academy Award nomination...
), a powerful and conniving lobbyist whom he likens to a common criminal.
The season also develops a plotline involving J.J. marrying Adaleen. At first resistant, Adaleen accepts being "sealed" to J.J. and soon after finds that she's pregnant. Nicki is told she's infertile, even when treated by J.J.'s son, a fertility specialist. Eventually, it is revealed that J.J. has been using eugenics and inbreeding on an isolated community in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
where he is a leader, and that Adaleen's pregnancy is the product of that program.
On the eve of elections, Barb unsuccessfully tries to sabotage Bill's potential win by leaking the paternity report of Ana's child thus proving Bill's extramarital affair to the media. This brings the growing rift between Bill and Barb to fore, with Barb declaring that, unlike the previous twenty years, she does not feel the need for Bill any more. To avenge J.J.'s eugenics experiments on her family with in-vitro fertilization, Adaleen sets fire to a fertility clinic office where she has trapped J.J. Walker and his cancer-stricken wife. Season 4 ends with Bill winning the election for the Utah State Senate seat and revealing to an obviously uncomfortable public that he has a plural marriage with Barb, Nicki, and Margene.
Season 5
The fifth and final season is centered around Bill's service in Utah State SenateUtah State Senate
The Utah State Senate is the upper house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The Senate is composed of 29 elected members representing an equal number of constituent senatorial districts. Each senatorial district is composed of approximately 91,000 people...
, and the trouble that comes with his new position. Because of his polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
, Bill faces opposition from a majority in the Senate, who attempt to pass a bill to have him impeached. Bill, however, makes a deal with the President of the Senate
President of the Senate
The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
to have the bill stricken down. Bill pushes plans of action to help Juniper Creek, but has the compound demolished after Alby attempts to murder Don. He plans to build a church where UEB members can worship in safety. However, the Senate tries to stop Bill by bringing forward charges of statutory rape
Statutory rape
The phrase statutory rape is a term used in some legal jurisdictions to describe sexual activities where one participant is below the age required to legally consent to the behavior...
against him, since Margie admitted earlier that she was only sixteen when she was married to Bill. Before he can be taken to jail, Alby attempts to murder Bill in the Utah State Capitol
Utah State Capitol
The Utah State Capitol is the house of government for the U.S. state of Utah. The building houses the chambers of the Utah State Legislature, the offices of the Governor of Utah and Lieutenant Governor of Utah, along with other supporting offices for the Government of Utah...
, but is stopped and incarcerated.
Lois develops dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
due to a sexually-transmitted disease she contracted from Frank. The Henricksons try to take care of her, but she goes on a hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
in order to be taken back to Frank, forcing the family to agree to take her back to the compound. Frank finds out how much the disease has affected her after he breaks his hip and Lois does nothing about it, besides give him a pillow to put under his head. She is put into a nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
where Bill and Frank both visit her.
Barb shocks the household when she tells them she believes she had a testimony to be a priesthood-holder, then refuses to attend Bill's church because of their differing theological views. She attends a Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS)
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
church that recognizes and provides for female priesthood. She attempts to be baptized into her new church, but realizes it isn't what she wants because her family isn't there to witness it. She then joins the family at Bill's church for Easter service.
Nicki is now the sole parent of Cara Lynn, and wants Bill to adopt her into the family. The only catch is that for Bill to adopt her, he and Nicki must be legally married. After much discussion, Barb and Bill divorce so that Bill can be legally married to Nicki, making her his first wife. When Nicki discovers that her daughter is in a relationship with her teacher, she tries to send her to a strict boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
without telling the rest of the family. Cara Lynn, however, runs to Barb and tells them what her mother is trying to do.
Margie becomes desperate to be around people and make new friends. She tries her hand at selling various products and, while successful, through those experiences, she finds out that there is more to life than her marriage with Bill, and decides to go on missions to help the poor.
In the final episode, Bill has been in jail for 48 hours and is released. He goes straight the Senate and tries to push for a bill to make polygamy legal. On Easter Sunday, Bill invites everyone to his church for service and more than 400 people from across the state do. During his service, he sees a vision of the old pioneers and Emma Smith (Joseph Smith, Jr.'s wife), knowing that he is making the right decision. After his service, we find Lois in her bed at the nursing home with Frank. There are vials of medication on the bedside table and the syringes have been used. Frank talks to her until she passes away beside him.
In the final moments of the series, Bill walks outside and is confronted by his neighbor, Carl, because he re-sodded his yard for him. Carl then goes into a rant then shoots Bill in the chest at close range. All three wives, who were in the kitchen making dinner, hear the shots and run outside to help Bill. In his final moments, Bill asks Barb to give him a blessing, showing her that he believes she holds the priesthood also.
The next scene is set 11 months later. Sarah has had a baby and they have just come from the christening. Barb was the one who blessed the baby boy, who is named Bill. Ben and Heather, who began dating at the beginning of the season, are now married and Margene is leaving on a mission. In the final scene, all the women embrace one another beside the dining room table and the spirit of Bill is sitting at the end of the table, watching them.
The United Effort Brotherhood
The show's fictional fundamentalist group, the "United Effort Brotherhood", or UEB, is similar to the actual "United Effort Plan" established by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day SaintsFundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one of the largest Mormon fundamentalist denominations and one of the largest organizations in the United States whose members practice polygamy. The FLDS Church emerged in the early twentieth century when its founding members left...
(FLDS) and taken over by the state in 2005. The FLDS is one of the most prolific and well-known polygamist groups and regards itself as the legitimate successor of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which officially discontinued polygamy in 1890. Creators Olsen and Scheffer included a drive through the twin FLDS towns of Hildale, Utah
Hildale, Utah
Hildale is a city in Washington County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,726 at the 2010 census.Hildale is a twin city to the more well-known Colorado City, Arizona, both of which straddle the border between Utah and Arizona. Hildale is the headquarters of the Fundamentalist Church of...
and Colorado City
Colorado City, Arizona
Colorado City is a town in Mohave County, Arizona, United States, and is located in a region known as the Arizona Strip. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 4,607...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, as part of their research for the show.
Like the FLDS, the UEB has the distinction of possessing a temple of its own on its Kansas compound. The raid on Juniper Creek is reminiscent of the Short Creek raid
Short Creek raid
The Short Creek raid is the name given to Arizona state police and Arizona National Guard action against Mormon fundamentalists that took place on the morning of July 26, 1953, at Short Creek, Arizona. The Short Creek raid was the largest mass arrest of polygamists in American history...
, an actual historic event from 1953 where Arizona state police and National Guard troops took action against polygamists in Colorado City. Many of the businesses owned by the 'UEB' are similar to businesses owned by the Latter Day Church of Christ (aka the Kingston Clan), another Mormon fundamentalist church. The concept for the cable show was influenced by a 2003 article published in Utah on the Darger family, members of the UAB.
Production and crew
Although set in Utah, the series was primarily filmed at the Santa Clarita Studios in ValenciaValencia, California
Valencia is an affluent planned community located in the City of Santa Clarita, California and Los Angeles County, California, U.S. in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities that merged to create the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The location used for filming "Henrickson’s Home Plus" scenes was The All American Home Center in Downey, California
Downey, California
Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Apollo space program, and is the city where folk singer Karen Carpenter lived and died...
.
The outside scenes of the three homes that Bill owns were filmed on location on Shady Lane, in the small town of Fillmore, California
Fillmore, California
Fillmore is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 15,002 at the 2010 census, up from 13,643 at the 2000 census.- History :...
.
The mall scenes from season one were filmed in the Fox Hills Mall, in Culver City, California. Other exterior shots were filmed in Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Sandy, Utah
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
, as well as northeast Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The head writers
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
for the series are the co-creators: Mark V. Olsen
Mark V. Olsen
Mark V. Olsen is a U.S. TV producer and screenwriter. He is the co-creator and executive producer of the HBO series Big Love along with writing and life partner Will Scheffer. In 2007, Olsen and Scheffer won a TV Writers Guild of America Award for the pilot and first episode of Big...
and Will Scheffer
Will Scheffer
Will Scheffer is an American playwright and co-creator and executive producer of Big Love with longtime life-partner Mark V. Olsen.His writing credits include Big Love: In the Beginning, Ellis Island, Duck Town, Easter , In the Gloaming, The Pact and Citizen Baines.In 1997, Scheffer was honored...
. The writing staff includes: Patricia Breen
Patricia Breen
Patricia Breen is an American television writer and producer, who has worked on a range of shows including Frasier and the acclaimed HBO polygamy drama Big Love.- Career :...
, Dustin Lance Black
Dustin Lance Black
Dustin Lance Black is an American screenwriter, director, film and television producer, and LGBT rights activist. He has won two Writers Guild of America Awards for his work on the television series Big Love and an Academy Award for the 2008 film Milk.-Early life:Black was born in Sacramento,...
, Doug Jung, Eileen Myers, Jennifer Schuur, Doug Stockstill, Jeanette Collin, and Mimi Friedman.
Directors of the series include Jim McKay
Jim McKay
James Kenneth McManus , better known by his professional name of Jim McKay, was an American television sports journalist....
, Adam Davidson, Rodrigo Garcia, Charles McDougall
Charles McDougall
Charles McDougall is a British Emmy Award and BAFTA-winning director.-Biography:McDougall has directed for popular television series which include the pilot episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives . McDougall has also directed episodes of Queer as Folk on Channel 4 and Sex and the City on HBO...
, Sarah Pia Anderson, Dan Attias
Dan Attias
Daniel Attias is an American television director and producer. Attias' career has spanned three decades and during this time he has directed a significant number of popular primetime television programs, including Miami Vice and Beverly Hills, 90210...
, Burr Steers
Burr Steers
Burr Gore Steers is an American actor, screenwriter and director.-Personal life:Steers was born in Washington, D.C. His father, Newton Ivan Steers, Jr. , was a Republican congressman from Maryland. His mother, Nina Gore Auchincloss , was the daughter of stockbroker and lawyer Hugh D...
, Michael Spiller
Michael Spiller
Michael Alan Spiller is an American cinematographer and television director.Spiller has directed on numerous series and has also served as a cinematographer prior to directing and worked frequently with Hal Hartley. He was a regular director on the HBO series, Sex and the City where he also served...
, Alan Taylor
Alan Taylor (director)
Alan Taylor is an American television and film director, television producer, and screenwriter. Taylor has directed for numerous programs on both network television and premium cable, most notably on HBO...
, John Strickland, Mary Harron
Mary Harron
Mary Harron is a Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter best known for her films I Shot Andy Warhol, American Psycho and The Notorious Bettie Page.-Overview:...
, Steve Shill
Steve Shill
Steve Shill is a British television and film director, actor, screenwriter, and television producer.-Career:He attended Keswick Grammar School in Keswick,Cumbria,England in the 70's....
, Julian Farino
Julian Farino
Julian Farino is a British television and film director and television producer. Farino has directed several shows both in the United States and in the United Kingdom, most of them being for HBO...
, Michael Lehmann
Michael Lehmann
Michael Stephen Lehmann is an American film and television director.Lehmann attended Columbia University. His first job in the film industry was answering phones at Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope film company. Later he supervised cameras on films that included 1983's The Outsiders...
, and Alan Poul
Alan Poul
Alan Mark Poul is an American film and television producer and director.-Career:Poul served as executive producer for the HBO original series, Six Feet Under, on which he made his directing debut...
(former executive producer of Six Feet Under).
The show's producers are Alexa Junge
Alexa Junge
Alexa Junge is a television writer, producer and screenwriter. She is best known for her work on the series Friends.Four-time Emmy and WGA Award nominee, Junge grew up in Los Angeles, attended Barnard College where she wrote The Columbia Varsity Show with David Rakoff and Jeanine Tesori. Junge...
, Ann Holm, Ron Binkowski, Bernadette Caulfield, Jeanette Collins, Mimi Friedman, Shane Keller, David Knoller
David Knoller
David Knoller is an actor, producer and director. He has worked on several TV series, including Carnivàle, Jesse, and is the executive producer and director of the HBO series Big Love. He received both a CableACE and NAACP Image award for Best Dramatic Special for the period film America's...
, Mark V. Olsen, Will Scheffer, Gary Goetzman
Gary Goetzman
Gary M. Goetzman is an American film and television producer, and is perhaps best known as co-founder of Playtone with Tom Hanks. Born in Los Angeles, Goetzman began his career as a child actor. In 1984, director Jonathan Demme tapped Goetzman to co-produce the Talking Heads concert film Stop...
, and Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Season premiere | Season finale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | March 12, 2006 | June 4, 2006 |
| 2 | 12 | June 11, 2007 | August 26, 2007 |
| 3 | 10 | January 18, 2009 | March 22, 2009 |
| 4 | 9 | January 10, 2010 | March 7, 2010 |
| 5 | 10 | January 16, 2011 | March 20, 2011 |
Soundtrack
David ByrneDavid Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
recorded a complete soundtrack to the second season, released as Big Love: Hymnal
Big Love: Hymnal
Big Love: Hymnal – Music Written for the HBO Series Plus Other Recent Compositions is a soundtrack album by David Byrne including music composed for the HBO television drama Big Love released on August 19, 2008...
on August 19, 2008.
The theme song to the series from Seasons 1 through 3 was The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
' "God Only Knows
God Only Knows
"God Only Knows" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. It is the eighth track on the group's 11th studio album, Pet Sounds , and one of their most widely recognized songs. "God Only Knows" was composed and produced by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Tony Asher and lead vocal by Carl...
". As of Season 4, the song "Home", performed by the British band Engineers
Engineers (band)
Engineers are a British shoegazing/dream pop band. The band was formed in London in 2003 by singer/guitarist Simon Phipps, bassist/guitarist/keyboardist Mark Peters, bassist/guitarist Dan MacBean, and drummer Andrew Sweeney...
, was adopted as the show's theme song along with a new title sequence. "God Only Knows" was covered by Natalie Maines
Natalie Maines
Natalie Louise Maines Pasdar is an American singer-songwriter who achieved success as the lead vocalist for the female alternative country band, the Dixie Chicks...
for the series finale.
DVD releases
| DVD Name | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | October 17, 2006 | April 27, 2007 | September 5, 2007 |
| Season 2 | December 11, 2007 | September 12, 2011 | July 2, 2008 |
| Season 3 | January 5, 2010 | TBA | March 3, 2010 |
| Season 4 | January 4, 2011 | TBA | May 4, 2011 |
| Season 5 | December 6, 2011 | TBA | TBA |
| Big Love: The Complete Collection | December 6, 2011 | TBA | TBA |
Critical reception
Review aggregate MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
awarded the series' first season an average score of 72 out of 100, indicating favorable reviews. The second season was awarded a rating of 71 out of 100, indicating similarly favorable reviews. The third season was awarded a score of 79 out of 100, also indicating favorable reviews. Season four was awarded a score of 70 out of 100, continuing the series' trend of positive critical response.
Heather Havrilesky of Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
said of Big Love, "There are elements of this new series that have a quirkiness that might seem deliberate or overly clever against a different backdrop, but that feels natural in its own gracefully odd environment."
Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine's James Poniewozik named it one of the Top 10 Returning Series of 2007, ranking it at #5.
However, the Phoenix New Times
Phoenix New Times
The Phoenix New Times is a free, weekly Phoenix, Arizona newspaper, put out every Thursday. It is the founding publication of the New Times Media , but The Village Voice is now the flagship publication of that company....
's Robert L. Pela called the show a "hot-soccer-mom fantasy" and "about as down and dirty as the old sitcom Three's Company
Three's Company
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
", and said its portrayal of polygamy was "just as tidy as a deodorant commercial".
In contrast, the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
's Tim Goodman called Bill Paxton a "wonderfully underappreciated actor" and the show itself "compelling, but not easy".
LDS Church response
In March 2006, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) issued a public statement citing concerns over the program's depiction of abuse, polygamy, use of stereotypes, and television's depiction of moral and civic values in general. Among other things, the church stated, "Despite its popularity with some, much of today’s television entertainment shows an unhealthy preoccupation with sex, coarse humor and foul language. Big Love, like so much other television programming, is essentially lazy and indulgent entertainment that does nothing for our society and will never nourish great minds." In March 2009, the LDS Church stated that HBO's writers, producers, and executives were displaying insensitivity to church members by choosing to display simulated segments of the LDS Church's EndowmentEndowment (Latter Day Saints)
In the theology of the Latter Day Saint movement, an endowment refers to a gift of "power from on high", typically associated with Latter Day Saint temples. The purpose and meaning of the endowment varied during the life of movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr...
ceremony in an episode of Big Love. The LDS Church also stated that the show had continued to blur the distinction between the LDS Church and "the show's fictional non-Mormon characters."
Awards and nominations
The second season was nominated for the Golden GlobeGolden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
for Best Drama Series in 2007
65th Golden Globe Awards
The 65th Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best in film and television of 2007, were scheduled to be presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association on January 13, 2008...
. Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
William "Bill" Paxton is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic...
was also nominated for the Best Actor in a Television Drama Golden Globe for his role as Bill Henrickson
Bill Henrickson
William Orville "Bill" Henrickson is the fictional protagonist husband in a polygamous family in the HBO series Big Love, portrayed by Bill Paxton. He is married to three wives, Barbara Henrickson, Nicolette Grant and Margene Heffman...
.
The third season was nominated for the Emmy
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
for Outstanding Drama Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series
This page lists the winners and nominees for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, since its institution in 1951. The award is often cited as one of the "main awards" at the Emmys ceremonies, and has changed names many times in its history. It was first called Best Dramatic Show...
.
In 2010 Chloë Sevigny
Chloë Sevigny
Chloë Stevens Sevigny is an American film actress, fashion designer and former model. Sevigny gained reputation for her eclectic fashion sense and developed a broad career in the fashion industry in the mid 1990s, both for modeling and for her work at New York's Sassy magazine, which labeled her...
won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a TV role for her portrayal of Nicolette Grant in season 3 of Big Love.
Family tree
| plural marriage | |
| traditional or legal marriage | |
| former marriage | |
| offspring |